Archived: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2014-15 report, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 6
Section 6: Strategic Environmental Assessment
Environment Canada ensures that it continues to comply with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. A departmental policy on SEA establishes the core elements of a well-functioning SEA management system (e.g., clear accountabilities and procedures, updated guidance materials and a comprehensive SEA tracking system).
Environment Canada continued to implement its SEA policy and further strengthen its SEA performance by ensuring that
- high-quality SEAs are completed for policy, plan and program proposals as required by the Cabinet Directive;
- SEAs include a detailed integrated analysis of the potential environmental effects of proposals as well as potential impacts on the achievement of the FSDS goals and targets;
- SEAs also include, as appropriate, measures to mitigate negative environmental effects and enhance positive environmental effects (including effects on the FSDS goals and targets); and
- public statements are issued when SEAs have been formally approved or announced.
In addition, Environment Canada provided departments and agencies with expert policy, technical and scientific analysis and advice on sustainable development and the potential environmental effects of initiatives.
During the 2014-15 reporting cycle, Environment Canada considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. Through SEAs, Environment Canada-led proposals were found to have important positive environmental effects and supported progress toward the 2013-16 FSDS goals and targets in Theme I - Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality and Theme III - Protecting Nature and Canadians. Specifically, EC-led initiatives during the 2014-15 reporting cycle supported the following: Goal 1- Climate Change (Target 1.1 Climate Change Mitigation); Goal 2- Air Pollution (Target 2.1 Outdoor Air Pollutants); Goal 4- Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians (4.8 Chemical Management); and, Goal 5 - Biological Resource.
Additional information on the results of the SEAs is available on Environment Canada’s public statement website.